Open Access research that is better understanding work in the global economy...

Better understanding the nature of work and labour within the globalised political economy is a focus of the 'Work, Labour & Globalisation Research Group'. This involves researching the effects of new forms of labour, its transnational character and the gendered aspects of contemporary migration. A Scottish perspective is provided by the Scottish Centre for Employment Research (SCER). But the research specialisms of the Department of Work, Employment & Organisation go beyond this to also include front-line service work, leadership, the implications of new technologies at work, regulation of employment relations and workplace innovation.

Abstract

Microfluidics refers to the science and technology that deals with devices which manipulate and examine fluid flows in small scaled systems (1μm - 1000μm). The possibility of such microfabricated channels to replicate the natural environment at the dimensional scale of many biological and industrial processes, together with the small amount of volume sample they require, increased rapidly their popularity in many fields (i.e. biotechnology, engineering etc.). Additionally, microfluidics offers the ability to produce fluid flows that are characterised by high deformation rates under small Reynolds numbers (Re), offering a promising platform for investigating fluids described by complex rheological behaviour. That way, important viscoelastic effects.